New revelations in 2G scam be thoroughly probed: Left

Left parties on Saturday demanded a thorough probe into the new revelations in the 2G spectrum allocation scandal, saying anybody against whom doubts have been raised should appear before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to clarify their position.

"Anybody involved, anybody whose culpability is in doubt, anybody on whom questions have been raised, all those will have to come before the JPC to explain their position," CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said when asked about the letter written by former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the pricing of spectrum.

Asked whether that would include the Prime Minister as well, he said "everybody".

Observing that the fresh revelations have raised several serious questions, he said these were "already under a shadow of doubt. I had written several letters to the Prime Minister since 2008. All these issues are now coming to the fore. These suspicions are proving correct in a piecemeal manner".

"Therefore, what is required is a proper investigation to get the entire truth out. The whole process has to be properly understood, made public and made accountable," Yechury said.

CPI general secretary AB Bardhan said a "very serious charge" has been levelled against P Chidambaram by the finance ministry and demanded a thorough probe into his role.

Asked whether Chidambaram, who was then the finance minister, should now quit, he said, "When the investigation begins, then the question of his resignation will come up. First, the horse and then the horse cart".

"The Prime Minister has said he has confidence in Chidambaram. That confidence cannot wish away the failure in work of Chidambaram as the former finance minister. We think his role requires to be probed. A very serious charge has been made against him for which (former minister) A Raja has been sent to jail," Bardhan said.

"A lot of things are coming to light. A lot of people are involved. That is why the entire thing including the new revelations should be enquired into," Bardhan said

Observing that the country and the UPA-II government was on the brink of a "very deep" economic and political crisis, he said, "There is a rift within the ruling coalition which cannot be wished away. It is manifested through various factors. The government of the day is not itself admitting that there is a very deep crisis".

To buttress his point, the veteran communist leader referred to the "rift" between the Congress and its allies over various issues, including the telecom scam with DMK, on hiking of petrol prices with all its allies.

"There is a split within the UPA alliance," he said.

To a question on the 1992 palmolein import case in Kerala, Bardhan said, "The core issue is that one of his own men has said that (chief minister) Oomen Chandy is also involved. He was then the finance minister when this scandal broke out. There should be an enquiry and the law should take its course".

The case pertained to the import of 32,000 tonnes of palmolein from Malaysia allegedly causing a loss of Rs 2.32 crore to the state exchequer. Late Congress leader K Karunakaran was then the chief minister.